Home to countless early mornings, late nights and meals both memorable and routine, Ma Fischer’s has remained an East Side institution for more than six decades by offering breakfast, bread baskets and burgers 24/7. In a city that hates to wait and loves to eat, Ma Fischer’s can’t be the only 24/7 Greek/family restaurant refilling coffee cups with impressive regularity. The Milwaukee area is home to plenty of these anytime oases and here are four 24-hour options to consider when waffles and bacon become an absolute necessity.
Omega Restaurant
3473 S. 27th St.
Sometimes referred to as the Taj Mahal of local 24-hour Greek restaurants because of its impressive size, Omega Restaurant is known for its over-the-top breakfasts, including four-egg omelets and giant waffles, topped with whip cream and ice-cream, and all-inclusive entrées like meatloaf, barbecue ribs and broasted chicken. As expected, entrées are served with soup or salad and choice of potato, and Omega’s “authentic Greek dishes” are served with either roasted oregano potatoes or rice. Also good are the spinach pie and pastichio, a delicious Greek casserole filled with layers of ground beef and macaroni noodles.
Zebb’s Family Restaurant
2701 W. Morgan Ave.
A short distance from Omega’s location, Zebb’s Family Restaurant offers much of the same, just on the other side of the street. Patrons can choose from plenty of Greek specialties like an enormous Greek salad or a generous rotisserie gyros plate. More diner-like than Omega, Zebb’s offers a surprising selection of pasta dishes covered in homemade sauces, as well as traditional, open-faced sandwiches with meatloaf, pork, turkey and breaded veal.
El Greco Family Restaurant
9143 W. Appleton Ave.
Athenian chicken, Greek-style broiled lamb chops, melts, burgers, triple-decker clubs, beer-battered cod (Wednesday and Friday) and homemade baked macaroni and cheese—El Greco Family Restaurant is aspiring to do it all from its busy West Side location. Entrées are served with either soup or salad and a choice of a small desert. Breakfast is a customizable affair with stacks of potato, pecan and golden-brown pancakes, as well as hearty omelets and eggs cooked to order.
The Forum
4711 S. 108th St.
Featuring an expansive dining area and an extensive menu, Greenfield’s Forum restaurant is especially proud of its “Greenfield Classics,” a traditional selection of diner and deli sandwiches available any time. Served with a cup of soup and a generous pile of French fries, the New York-style Reuben requires a knife and fork, while the BLT is simple and satisfying. Equally satisfying are many of the Forum’s salads. A Greek salad, for instance, is a safe bet in a Greek restaurant, and this one comes garnished with pita bread.
